Marouane Fellaini could have a big say in proceedings today (Picture: Reuters)

Manchester United’s quest for Champions League qualification is all but complete with only a 14 goal swing capable of pushing Liverpool back into Europe’s elite for the second successive year.

United’s final home game of the season takes place on Sunday as rivals Arsenal come to visit with Arsene Wenger’s team still looking to usurp Manchester City into second place and record their best finish since 2005. Arsenal will be without Danny Welbeck through injury with United unlikely to relish facing the forward who knocked the club out of the FA Cup earlier this term.

Much of the media focus on United this week has been surrounding transfer speculation with both Gareth Bale and Harry Kane linked with expensive moves to Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal quashed such rumours in his press-conference on Friday afternoon and suggesting he would be looking to find balance in his team rather than individual quality: ‘You can mention a lot of names, I’ve seen I buy everyone in the world but it is not like that. l will go more for the balance than the individual player.’

United will however be focused on the match with Arsenal given the fact a victory over the Gunners could give United and outside chance of finishing third following Arsenal’s defeat at home to Swansea on Monday. In order for this to happen the London club would still need to drop points in one of their remaining matches.

Van Gaal is without a number of key players on Sunday with Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw both definitely out following injuries picked up in last weekend’s priceless victory over Crystal Palace. Michael Carrick is another expected absence whilst Rafael is back in training but not deemed match-fit.

With this in mind, how will Manchester United line up in the final home fixture of the season?

David de Gea will start in goal in what may well be his last Old Trafford appearance as a United player. The Spaniard has still yet to indicate his plans for the upcoming summer leaving many in Manchester expecting an imminent departure to Madrid.

The defensive line will remain the same with Antonio Valencia continuing at right-back alongside Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. Given the injuries to both Rooney and Shaw it is almost impossible to put Daley Blind at left-back so it may well be the case that Marcos Rojo returns to the starting line up in that position.

Sunday’s clash with Arsenal could be David de Gea’s last at Old Trafford as a United player (Picture: Reuters)

The inclusion of Fellaini could be a potentially interesting one with the Belgian having a good record against Arsenal. Despite Francis Coquelin’s emergence as an efficient defensive-midfielder in the second-half of the campaign there is still the lack of a physical presence to take Fellaini out of the game in the way Kurt Zouma did at Stamford Bridge a month ago.

Angel di Maria’s injury has cleared and the Argentine is expected to return to the match-day squad on Sunday. It is still unlikely that he will return to the starting eleven with Juan Mata and Ashley Young well deserving of their continued presence in the first-team.

Robin van Persie’s exclusion from last weekend’s squad was somewhat of a surprise and in Rooney’s absence it is expected that the Dutchman will return to the starting eleven against his former club.

Van Persie looked sharp against West Bromwich Albion until he switched into a midfield position and United supporters will welcome the opportunity for him to score a third goal against Arsenal since he left the Emirates in 2013.